January
4, 2019, Cardiff University
A 10-year
study of proboscis monkeys in Borneo has revealed that forest conversion to oil
palm plantations is having a significant impact on the species.
Nearly
half of all primate species are threatened with extinction, with habitat destruction acting
as the key driving force. New research studied proboscis monkeys from 2004
to 2014, finding that the protection of swamp forests is vital for their
survival.
The study
led by Cardiff University, Chubu University, Hokaido University, Sun Yat-sen
University, Living Landscape Alliance, the NGO HUTAN, Sabah Wildlife Department
and Danau Girang Field Centre, tracked changes in population sizes over a
decade, revealing significantly reduced sizes of proboscis monkey groups.
Dr.
Benoit Goossens, Director of Danau Girang Field Centre and Reader at Cardiff
University School of Biosciences, said: "We compared population sizes from
2004 and 2014, and it revealed subtle changes, where population densities fluctuated
but had neither increased nor decreased. But importantly, we discovered that
the sizes of the groups were significantly reduced.
Mr
Augustine Tuuga, Director of Sabah Wildlife Department, said: "Proboscis
monkeys are endemic to the island of Borneo. They are classified as endangered
and are also a Totally Protected species in Sabah. Despite these levels of
protection, lowland swamp forest habitats
that are important for this species are still decreasing, mainly through forest
conversion to oil palm plantations.
"Our
analysis of the habitat changes
showed that within protected reserves, there was relatively little forest loss
in the potential range of the proboscis monkey, which mainly lies 800m from
riverbanks."
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